These three under-the-radar players are fueling Toronto’s postseason quest

The Toronto Blue Jays are leading the AL East by 4.5 games over the Boston Red Sox and six games over the New York Yankees. With the lead has come hopes of making a deep postseason run. They were aggressive at the trade deadline, strengthening the pitching staff by acquiring Louis Varland, Seranthony Dominguez, and Shane Bieber. Ty France was also added, giving the offense another right-handed bat and utility player.

They've gotten solid performances from these acquisitions and top superstars. Bieber is rehabbing from Tommy John surgery but is expected to return before the end of the season to help with the final push to make the postseason, preferably with the No. 1 seed, which they currently lead in the AL by one game over the Detroit Tigers.

To perform this well and win a World Series, you need outstanding play from your superstars, but you also need the lesser-known players to perform as well. Luckily, the Blue Jays have three players who are exceeding expectations, fueling the hopes that a World Series is possible and fully winnable.

These three under-the-radar players are fueling Toronto’s postseason quest

Addison Barger

Barger struggled last season, hitting .197/.250/.351 with .601 OPS. Over 225 plate appearances in his rookie season, he had seven home runs, 20 runs, and 28 runs batted in. Despite his struggles, there were high hopes for a bounce-back in his second season.

Although he started the season in Triple-A Buffalo, it didn't last long as he was recalled with Nathan Lukes going on paternity leave mid-April. He started his return platooning against right-handed pitchers in the outfield or at third base, but has been a primarily every-day starter between the two positions with Anthony Santander and Andrés Giménez on the injured list.

However, he has had a rollercoaster season, with an OPS of .511, .887, and .776 over the first three months of the season. In July and so far through August, he's had a .895 and a .775 OPS, respectively. The left-handed hitter has found himself sandwiched in the middle of the order, between Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Alejandro Kirk.

With his recent success, Santander’s return will complicate Barger's playing time. Manager John Schneider will need to determine how he wants to utilize the right field, third base, and designated hitter positions.

Eric Lauer

Lauer has been a massive contributor to the Blue Jays' success this season after returning to MLB after spending last season in the Korean Baseball Organization. He started this season as a long reliever, but after the injury to Bowden Francis, Lauer has been pitching primarily as a starter.

Lauer has pitched better as a reliever, although he’s only pitched 18 2/3 innings of relief compared to 64 1/3 innings as a starter. In relief, he has a 0.96 ERA with hitters batting .086 against him, while as a starter, he's posted a 3.36 ERA with batters hitting .246

Lauer will continue to fill the starter role until either Alek Manoah or Bieber returns from their injuries. Although the reliever's return to the bullpen will give the Blue Jays an exceptional boost down the stretch with another left-hander to utilize.

Braydon Fisher

Fisher has been phenomenal out of the bullpen in his rookie season in the pros. He’s been in the minor leagues since he was drafted in 2018, including the start of this season, although he missed all of 2019 due to an injury and didn’t play in 2020 due to the pandemic forcing MLB to cancel the minor league season.

In Triple-A Buffalo, Fisher threw 11 1/3 innings, allowing a 2.38 ERA, and earned his first-ever call-up to the big league on June 11th. Since then, the righty has been lights out. He’s posted a 2.25 ERA over 36 innings with a 48:13 strikeout-to-walk ratio and allowing batters to hit only .174 against him.

A massive stat difference that has aided his success this season is his ability to keep balls in the strike zone. In his last three minor league seasons, he's finished with at least a 13.5 walk percentage. This season, the righty has dropped his walk percentage to 6.9.

With a starting rotation ranking 16th in ERA (4.04), shut-down relievers are essential, especially in the final stretch of a season when a team is trying to hold off division rivals.